Fig. 4

MMF exerts strong inhibition activity against SARS-CoV-2 on mRNA levels. a–c Vero E6 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 WT and variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. d–f Calu-3 cells were infected with SARS-COV-2 variants BA.5, EG.5 and XBB.1.16. Indicated concentrations of MMF were added simultaneously and treated for 24 h and the NP mRNA levels was determined by qRT-PCR assay, relative quantification was performed and normalized to the housekeeping gene GAPDH (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. virus control (Con), one-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak multiple comparisons test